U.N. Human Rights Chief Urges Action on Gaza Conflict

The U.N. human rights chief emphasized ending the Gaza war as a priority, condemning Israel's disregard for international law. With 41,000 Palestinian casualties reported, Volker Turk urged states to address the conflict urgently. His remarks were part of a broader speech on global human rights challenges.

On Monday, the U.N. human rights chief emphasized the urgent need to end the nearly year-long conflict in Gaza, criticizing Israel's blatant disregard for international law in the occupied Palestinian territories. Gaza health officials report that since October 7, 2023, around 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel's military campaign, which was launched in response to cross-border attacks by Hamas militants that resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.

Speaking at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, High Commissioner Volker Turk stressed the importance of averting a full-scale regional conflict, asserting, 'States must not – cannot – accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the U.N. Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, neither in this nor any other situation.'

Turk referenced a July opinion by the U.N. top court deeming Israel's occupation illegal and demanding comprehensive addresses to this situation, an opinion Israel has rejected as biased. His statements were part of a broader address assessing global challenges and the crisis of political leadership halfway through his four-year term as U.N. rights chief. He noted that 'in every region around the world, we see deep-seated power dynamics at play to grab or hold on to power, at the expense of universal human rights,' during the opening of a five-week session focused on rights violations in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)